It's the final stretch! I can't believe this semester is already over. Module 7 was really cool and packed with a lot of good, new information. Chapter 15 discusses OTCs, prescriptions, and herbals and chapter 18 discusses treating drug dependency.
In this module I feel like I had a lot of great conversation via the discussion board. The first stems from chapter 15 and discusses herbal remedies. As I quickly learned this module, herbal remedies are growing so quickly now-a-days for several reasons; prescriptions are expensive, alternatives are a fad, and herbal remedies can be inexpensive. Personally herbals are foreign to me because I grew up in a society obsessed with going to the doctor for a stubbed toe and getting antibiotics for each and every sniffy nose. Perhaps if we would have explored herbals earlier we wouldn't be having the "antibiotics epidemic" now. Infections and bacterias are becoming resistant to antibiotics because everyone uses them way too often. All of this information I learned stems from Internet research and the textbook.
I also discusses OTC abuse during this module. Users, especially teenagers, are beginning to abuse OTC medications now because they are so easily accessible and relatively cheap. I participated in a discussion about how to eliminate the abuse of OTC medications. I think I had a really great suggestion; to only allow these medications to be bought in packs of 4 rather than 12. This allows those who actually need the medication to get two doses and prevents those who are attempting to use it to get high from obtaining that high. I think this is a chronic problem in our nation so perhaps the law could crackdown on regulating these medications as well.
I think I did great this module as far as participation goes. All my work was done ahead of time and I got in promptly. I scored well on my participation in the discussion board and the quiz. I would give myself great feedback for my posts. I think I achieved success by reading thoroughly and doing my assignments promptly. I think I lacked the most on my quizzes overall throughout the semester, but not excessively.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Module 6 (CH 13 & Various Pages)
Module 6 has been really interesting to me because it was something I can relate to. Marijuana is a common drug and one that I feel is highly used in western New York. In high school, I knew a lot of people who smoked marijuana and even older people who have been dependent on it throughout their lives. I remember learning a lot of marijuana in my health classes, but the textbook and discussion posts covered the topic much more thoroughly and aggressively. I think the major thing that "clicked" with me this module is that most drugs see no thresholds; They impact individuals and families off all races, ethnicities, and income levels. Marijuana seems to be a major contributor to this.
One of the major things that caught me off guard in this unit was the first bullet point on the chapter introduction page. It says "George Washington grew marijuana plants at Mount Vernon for medicine and rope making." It was really shocking to me that someone who was once the president of our country even used marijuana.
Another thing I used this unit is that marijuana is used in the treatment of AIDS. I read this in one of the discussion posts for this module. I found on (which was a very resourceful website throughout this module) this marijuana helps with nausea, appetite loss, pain, and anxiety that are all symptoms of AIDS. AIDS is a huge influences in today's society that seems to be a death threat. It was great to know that these people infected with AIDS living in states that allow medicinal marijuana use are finding some relief.
I also participated in a rather interesting discussion post this module about anabolic steroids. Being an athlete I know that many people use these steroids and do not care about the health risks simply because sometimes they are not visible and come on later rather than immediately. It amazed me what people will do just to look good.
I feel like my participation has been really good this module. With the end of the semester pressure building and an extremely demanding athletic schedule, I have been trying to get work done as quickly, efficiently, and as thorough as possible. It is definitely better to get the work done sooner than later. Over the semester I feel as if I lacked the most in the discussion posts. It was hard for me to remember what was due when, but after making a calendar it was much easier to keep track of. I would give myself a lot of positive feedback this module; I feel like I worked really hard.
One of the major things that caught me off guard in this unit was the first bullet point on the chapter introduction page. It says "George Washington grew marijuana plants at Mount Vernon for medicine and rope making." It was really shocking to me that someone who was once the president of our country even used marijuana.
Another thing I used this unit is that marijuana is used in the treatment of AIDS. I read this in one of the discussion posts for this module. I found on (which was a very resourceful website throughout this module) this marijuana helps with nausea, appetite loss, pain, and anxiety that are all symptoms of AIDS. AIDS is a huge influences in today's society that seems to be a death threat. It was great to know that these people infected with AIDS living in states that allow medicinal marijuana use are finding some relief.
I also participated in a rather interesting discussion post this module about anabolic steroids. Being an athlete I know that many people use these steroids and do not care about the health risks simply because sometimes they are not visible and come on later rather than immediately. It amazed me what people will do just to look good.
I feel like my participation has been really good this module. With the end of the semester pressure building and an extremely demanding athletic schedule, I have been trying to get work done as quickly, efficiently, and as thorough as possible. It is definitely better to get the work done sooner than later. Over the semester I feel as if I lacked the most in the discussion posts. It was hard for me to remember what was due when, but after making a calendar it was much easier to keep track of. I would give myself a lot of positive feedback this module; I feel like I worked really hard.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Module 5 (Chapters 7 & 8)
Module 5 was a lot of fun because we learned about alcohol. Alcohol, versus other drugs, is something I have been exposed to/influenced by as a child, high school student, and college student because it is something that seemed common and normal during social events. During this module, I recaped on a lot of previous knowledge and gained a lot of new intelligence as well.
Chapter 7 discusses the pharmacological effects of alcohol. One thing I found particularly interesting was the history of alcohol; The Egyptians had breweries 6000 years ago to create wine! Alcohol was being made before history was being documented (PG 185) We also learned about how alcohol effects several different parts of the body. My Grandfather suffered from liver disease, so the section of page 197 that discusses alcohol's effects on the liver caught my eye as well. I learned "amongst alcoholics, liver disorders are responsible for 10% to 15% of deaths." Liver disease also has three stages that we read about, the first being hepatotoxic effect which causes the liver to produce excess fatty cells. The second stage called alcoholic hepatitis causes the liver to swell and the third stage, cirrhosis, is often fatal.
Chapter 8 discusses the behavioral effects of alcohol. This section is packed full of statistics, but I found a few particularly interesting. One states, "throughout the world, the highest per capita consumptions in 2006 were Romania, Austria, Hungary, and Russia. The lowest consumption was Norway while the United Kingdom was mid-range." (PG 211) Of all these countries, the United States is not listed as a high consumption nation. This shows the difference in consumption styles between the U.S. and European nations. While Europe drinks casually on a daily basis, most U.S. citizens binge and drink solely to get drunk. I also participated in a discussion post for this module that was based around behavioral decisions. Chelsea and I communicated about why under-age individuals choose to drink and what can be done about it. (See discussion 7&8)
At the halfway point in the semester, I think I'm doing a pretty decent job at participating in Drugs and Society. I've seen the most improvement in the time I set aside to do thorough reading of the chapters. It really helps in being an active participant. Between now and the end of the semester I need to focus on doing really well on my research paper, final exam, and discussion posts.
teetotalers- individuals who drink no alcoholic beverages whatsoever; a term in common usage in decades past
*PG 211, In today's society individuals like this are known as "straight-edge." It was cool to see what individuals who abstained from using alcohol were called in the past.
diuretic- a drug or substance that increases the production of urine
*PG 193, Alcohol is a diuretic which is the reason that many individuals feel the need to frequently urinate when under the influence of alcohol.
Chapter 7 discusses the pharmacological effects of alcohol. One thing I found particularly interesting was the history of alcohol; The Egyptians had breweries 6000 years ago to create wine! Alcohol was being made before history was being documented (PG 185) We also learned about how alcohol effects several different parts of the body. My Grandfather suffered from liver disease, so the section of page 197 that discusses alcohol's effects on the liver caught my eye as well. I learned "amongst alcoholics, liver disorders are responsible for 10% to 15% of deaths." Liver disease also has three stages that we read about, the first being hepatotoxic effect which causes the liver to produce excess fatty cells. The second stage called alcoholic hepatitis causes the liver to swell and the third stage, cirrhosis, is often fatal.
Chapter 8 discusses the behavioral effects of alcohol. This section is packed full of statistics, but I found a few particularly interesting. One states, "throughout the world, the highest per capita consumptions in 2006 were Romania, Austria, Hungary, and Russia. The lowest consumption was Norway while the United Kingdom was mid-range." (PG 211) Of all these countries, the United States is not listed as a high consumption nation. This shows the difference in consumption styles between the U.S. and European nations. While Europe drinks casually on a daily basis, most U.S. citizens binge and drink solely to get drunk. I also participated in a discussion post for this module that was based around behavioral decisions. Chelsea and I communicated about why under-age individuals choose to drink and what can be done about it. (See discussion 7&8)
At the halfway point in the semester, I think I'm doing a pretty decent job at participating in Drugs and Society. I've seen the most improvement in the time I set aside to do thorough reading of the chapters. It really helps in being an active participant. Between now and the end of the semester I need to focus on doing really well on my research paper, final exam, and discussion posts.
teetotalers- individuals who drink no alcoholic beverages whatsoever; a term in common usage in decades past
*PG 211, In today's society individuals like this are known as "straight-edge." It was cool to see what individuals who abstained from using alcohol were called in the past.
diuretic- a drug or substance that increases the production of urine
*PG 193, Alcohol is a diuretic which is the reason that many individuals feel the need to frequently urinate when under the influence of alcohol.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Module 4 (Chapter 6 & 10)
The content in module 4 has been my favorite so far! It was an interesting approach to read Chapter 6 followed by Chapter 10 because of their polarity. Chapter 6 contains information about depressants, whereas Chapter 10 talks about stimulants. I learned a ton this module, but here are a few key points:
1. Chapter 6 (approximately page 165) talks a lot of benzodiazepines. I've heard a lot about drugs in this category like Valium and Xanax and previously knew that these drugs are easily prescribed in mass quantities. But, in this module, I learned that benzodiazepines are prescribed for an array of symptoms ranging from anxiety relief to sleep deprivation. These drugs are so easily prescribed because of their perceived innocence. Medical professionals have predicted that these drugs are essentially impossible to die from and as the textbook jokes "the only way a person could die from using benzodiazepines would be to choke on them."
2. Chapter 10 talks about all different sorts of stimulants. I want to focus this point on cocaine. I feel as if cocaine is an extremely popular drugs, especially in the Niagara Falls area and I wanted to learn more about why people use the drug. I found it interesting that people are using cocaine as a self-medicating practice for depression and anxiety. I learned from the textbook that cocaine's effects can be compared to that of superhuman powers. Those high on cocaine feel invincible and as if there isn't anything they cannot do.
3. For this section I had a discussion with another student about coffee as a stimulant. I did tons of research on whether or not coffee is actually safe and the answer seemed to be that in moderation, coffee is actually pretty healthy for you. I found some interesting links to more about coffee and its effects on health which can be found in the discussion forum for this module.
I think I have improved a lot with my discussion participation. I'm doing really well, and I believe my grades are reflecting that. I make sure to have everything done thoroughly by the due date and I actually read and I am engaged in conversation, which is why I think I am doing so well.
freebasing- conversion of cocaine into its alkaline version for smoking
Users "freebase" their cocaine to get it to its purest form to get the best high they can. This is done with a combination of chemicals and crystallization process.
speedballs- combinations of amphetamine or cocaine with an opioid narcotic, often heroin
People who use amphetamines often use them with other types of drugs like barbiturates, or alcohol to intensify the effects. This is often called a speedball.
1. Chapter 6 (approximately page 165) talks a lot of benzodiazepines. I've heard a lot about drugs in this category like Valium and Xanax and previously knew that these drugs are easily prescribed in mass quantities. But, in this module, I learned that benzodiazepines are prescribed for an array of symptoms ranging from anxiety relief to sleep deprivation. These drugs are so easily prescribed because of their perceived innocence. Medical professionals have predicted that these drugs are essentially impossible to die from and as the textbook jokes "the only way a person could die from using benzodiazepines would be to choke on them."
2. Chapter 10 talks about all different sorts of stimulants. I want to focus this point on cocaine. I feel as if cocaine is an extremely popular drugs, especially in the Niagara Falls area and I wanted to learn more about why people use the drug. I found it interesting that people are using cocaine as a self-medicating practice for depression and anxiety. I learned from the textbook that cocaine's effects can be compared to that of superhuman powers. Those high on cocaine feel invincible and as if there isn't anything they cannot do.
3. For this section I had a discussion with another student about coffee as a stimulant. I did tons of research on whether or not coffee is actually safe and the answer seemed to be that in moderation, coffee is actually pretty healthy for you. I found some interesting links to more about coffee and its effects on health which can be found in the discussion forum for this module.
I think I have improved a lot with my discussion participation. I'm doing really well, and I believe my grades are reflecting that. I make sure to have everything done thoroughly by the due date and I actually read and I am engaged in conversation, which is why I think I am doing so well.
freebasing- conversion of cocaine into its alkaline version for smoking
Users "freebase" their cocaine to get it to its purest form to get the best high they can. This is done with a combination of chemicals and crystallization process.
speedballs- combinations of amphetamine or cocaine with an opioid narcotic, often heroin
People who use amphetamines often use them with other types of drugs like barbiturates, or alcohol to intensify the effects. This is often called a speedball.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Module 3 (Chapters 3 & 5)
I've learned a lot of new information this module. I'm not particularly interested in the law and how it pertains to drug use, but a lot of good information came from chapter three. A few of the major highlights I found interesting include the following; 1. The Pure Food and Drug Act was enacted in 1906 which forced manufacturers to print quantities of drugs in products they were selling. It is amazing to me that people would ingest these "miracle drugs" into their bodies without even knowing what they contained and how it could effect their health. 2. Drug trafficking penalties are much more severe in other countries than they are in the U.S. I partook in a discussion forum for this module that debated whether or not the U.S. should adopt these strict penalties such as hanging, or beheading. I did a great deal of Internet research for the subject as well. (See discussion forum 3 & 5 for reference) 3. Drug interaction was also a huge part of this module. One major thing that I learned was that if two individuals were to ingest the same amount of a particular drug, the drug has the potential to effect each individual in completely different ways based on factors like tolerance, age, and gender.
I feel as if I put in a moderate amount of time on this module. In the future, I would like to make time to do a more thorough reading of the text because as time goes on, I am realizing it is pretty important to read each chapter beginning to end. As for discussion forums and homework assignments, I feel that my participation was great!
teratogenic- something that causes physical defects in a fetus
*An example of a licit teratogenic drug is something you may receive from the pharmacy that has a warning label advising pregnant women not to take this drug
inoculation- a method of abuse prevention that protects drug users by teaching them responsibility
*After doing some research on my own, I learned that inoculation is used frequently in rehab programs in jails. Often times inmates are given an animal from a homeless shelter and taught responsibility though caring for the animal that will hopefully stick with them after the completion of their sentence
tolerance- changes in the body that decrease response to a drug even though the dose remains the same
*Eventually, heavy drug users become almost "immune" to the effects of the drug and need more of it in order to get high or produce the desired effects. The more use, the higher the tolerance.
I feel as if I put in a moderate amount of time on this module. In the future, I would like to make time to do a more thorough reading of the text because as time goes on, I am realizing it is pretty important to read each chapter beginning to end. As for discussion forums and homework assignments, I feel that my participation was great!
teratogenic- something that causes physical defects in a fetus
*An example of a licit teratogenic drug is something you may receive from the pharmacy that has a warning label advising pregnant women not to take this drug
inoculation- a method of abuse prevention that protects drug users by teaching them responsibility
*After doing some research on my own, I learned that inoculation is used frequently in rehab programs in jails. Often times inmates are given an animal from a homeless shelter and taught responsibility though caring for the animal that will hopefully stick with them after the completion of their sentence
tolerance- changes in the body that decrease response to a drug even though the dose remains the same
*Eventually, heavy drug users become almost "immune" to the effects of the drug and need more of it in order to get high or produce the desired effects. The more use, the higher the tolerance.
Module 2
Well, at this point my first experience with an online class is in full swing and for the most part I'm really enjoying it! The content in Drugs and Society is pretty interesting for the most part. I've been learning a lot of things about drug abuse that I didn't know in the past. For example, in chapter one I learned about the different classifications of drugs. I always knew different illicit drugs have different effects on a person, but I never knew which drugs belonged to which category (i.e. Ecstasy is a hallucinogen, cocaine is a stimulant, etc.) I also found it really interesting to learn about the media and how large of a part they play in the marketing of prescription drugs. I read about this in the reading for this unit and communicated about it in a discussion post for the module. I learned that television plays a huge role in how these drugs are marketed and that nowadays patients have more say in what drugs they take than doctors do. Another interesting point that I hadn't realized us that drugs are an equal-opportunity affliction. Drug use has recently shifted from the urban poor and privileged wealthy to the community as a whole. Everyone has the opportunity to be effected either positively or negatively by drugs.
Like I said before, this is my first experience with an online class so it took some adjusting to get used to it. It requires a lot more time than I thought it did to take an online class, but I am up for the challenge. Discussions threads are a new concept to me, but I like interacting with others online. Professor Brochu's comments on what to change, what I'm doing well, and what I can do better have defiantly been useful this time around in making sure I put my best work out there.
Gateway drugs- alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana-types of drugs that when used excessively may lead to using other and more addictive drugs such as cocaine, heroin, or "crack"
*People using gateway drugs need to use them in moderation and be careful not to get addicted to these substances because they can pave a path to heavier drug use.
Slang drug terms- Examples include cocaine-"nose candy," ketamine-"Special K", amphetamines-"brain ticklers"
*Drug users and dealers use these terms to avoid using actual terms on the streets. Cops need to learn these terms to interpret code.
Drug Cartels- large, highly sophisticated organizations composed of multiple drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and cells with specific assignments such as drug transportation, security/enforcement, or money laundering.
*Drug organizations are on a much larger scale than you may think. Local drug dealers are only a small part in this massive drug pushing community. Busting a drug cartel is much more important to a police agency than catching a small dealer.
Like I said before, this is my first experience with an online class so it took some adjusting to get used to it. It requires a lot more time than I thought it did to take an online class, but I am up for the challenge. Discussions threads are a new concept to me, but I like interacting with others online. Professor Brochu's comments on what to change, what I'm doing well, and what I can do better have defiantly been useful this time around in making sure I put my best work out there.
Gateway drugs- alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana-types of drugs that when used excessively may lead to using other and more addictive drugs such as cocaine, heroin, or "crack"
*People using gateway drugs need to use them in moderation and be careful not to get addicted to these substances because they can pave a path to heavier drug use.
Slang drug terms- Examples include cocaine-"nose candy," ketamine-"Special K", amphetamines-"brain ticklers"
*Drug users and dealers use these terms to avoid using actual terms on the streets. Cops need to learn these terms to interpret code.
Drug Cartels- large, highly sophisticated organizations composed of multiple drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and cells with specific assignments such as drug transportation, security/enforcement, or money laundering.
*Drug organizations are on a much larger scale than you may think. Local drug dealers are only a small part in this massive drug pushing community. Busting a drug cartel is much more important to a police agency than catching a small dealer.
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